Wheel.



H. E. WALKER.

WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY3,1908

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

1 I I h m I Mk1, (liter/nu: s

HORACE E. WALKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed July 3, 1908. Serial No. 441,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE E. VALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lVheels, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels and refers particularly to an improvedresilient wheel designed to employ a pneumatic device which will take upall shock incident to the rolling of the wheel and which is notcontacted with the ground.

The invention further embodies a wheel which is provided with apneumatic cushion of peculiar construction and adaptation for insertionbetween the parts of a solid wheel which is designed to support loads ofconsiderable weight and which is especially applicable to machines builtfor speed where it is necessary to provide means for absorbing the shockplaced upon the rims of the wheels.

The invention still further contemplates the provision of an improvedpneumatic hub which is so formed that a structure is had of considerablestrength and one which admits of the economical manufacture of the wheelas the same can be readily assembled.

With these and other objects in view, this invention comprises certainnovel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts, shown inthe accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in thespecification and claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wheel, part of the same being shownin section; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 isa sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, disclosing the location ofthe spokes upon the rim.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates an axle upon which the improvedwheel is mounted. The axle 1 is provided with a collar 2, in the usualmanner, disposed at the inner end of its spindle portion for engagementagainst the inner side of the wheel. A washer 3 is employed upon theouter end of the axle 1 to retain the wheel in position and is held inplace by the provision of a nut 4c which is disposed in threadedrelation upon the extremity of the axle 1.

The wheel structure comprises a bushing 5 in the form of a metalcylinder having flared extremities to provide bearing surfaces for thewheel against the collar 2 and the washer 3. The bushing 5 carries asleeve 6 which is positioned about the bushing 5 and is conformed to theshape of the same. An annular bead 7, is struck up about the centralportion of the sleeve 6 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Owing tothe formation of the bushing 5 and of the corresponding formation of thesleeve 6, the latter is prevented from longitudinal movement from theends of the bushing 5; the opposite ends of the sleeve 6 are providedwith ears 8 which are turned inwardly at their outer ends for engagementin annular grooves 9 formed in the opposite sides of a cushion 10.

Phe-oushion 10 is formed of rubber, rubber and canvas, or some likeflexible material, composition thereof or combination of such materialswhich are adapted to prevent the passage of air under pressuretherethrough and which are capable of withstanding considerable wear andpressure. The cushion 10 is so formed as to seat upon the sleeve 6 andhas an annular recess 11 into which the bead 7 extends to further insurethe rigid mounting of the cushion 10. An air chamber 12 is formed withinthe cushion 10 and extends throughout the same, air being introducedinto the chamber 12 through a valve 13 radially extended from thecushion 10.

The cushion 10 is rounded at its periphery for the reception of atransversely curved rim 1 1 which snugly engages the cushion 10 and issecured thereto by a plurality of ears 15 depended from the oppositeedges of the rim 14L and curved inwardly at their lower ends to engagein annular grooves formed in the opposite sides of the cushion 10. Therim 1 1 carries a plurality of radially extended spokes 16 which areprovided at their inner ends with studs 17 for engagement through therim 14 and into a peripheral groove 18 in the cushion 10. These studs 17form not only a means for preventing the displacement of the spokes 16but also act as a retaining means for the cushion 10 within the rim 14.To further secure the spokes 16 in position each spoke is provided witha pair of blocks 19 rigidly secured upon the opposite sides thereof, theblocks 19 each having a concaved under side to engage upon the face ofthe rim 14, and a locking screw 20 for engagement in the rim 14 to holdthe blocks 19 rigidly thereto.

The outer extremities of the spokes 16 support a felly 21 having flanges22 for en gagement against the opposite edges of a tire 23. The tire 23may be formed of any material suitable, but is preferably formed ofsolid rubber to deaden the rumbling of the wheel and to further theresilient qualities of the same.

With a wheel of this construction the use of pneumatic tires for contactwith the roadway is eliminated and a structure is formed where an equalresiliency is obtained by positioning the air containing member towardthe center of the wheel and out of contact with the roadway.

It is observed from this construction that all shock placed upon thetire of the wheel is absorbed through the improved cushion, and that avibration is permitted between the rim and the sleeve irrespective of amovement of the supporting axle. The provision of the bead 7 and of theears 8 and 15 pre vent any lateral displacement of the cushion when sidethrusts are exerted upon the wheel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Awheel including a bushing having flared extremities, a sleeve snuglyengaged about said bushing, a bead formed annularly about the centralportion of said sleeve, a cushion engaged about said sleeve and having agroove formed in the inner face thereof for the reception of said bead,ears car ried by said sleeve for engagement in annular grooves providedin the sides of said cushion, a rim secured against the periphery ofsaid cushion, in-turned ears carried by said rim for engagement withsaid cushion, a plurality of spokes radially extended from said rim, afelly carried upon the outer ends of said spokes and tire mounted uponsaid felly.

2. In a wheel the combination with an axle,

a collar disposed upon the inner end of the axle and a washer carriedupon the outer end of the axle of a bushing mounted on the axle 'andhaving flared extremities for engagement against said collar and saidwasher, a sleeve located on said bushing and conformed thereto in shape,a cushion engaged over said sleeve, means carried by said sleeve forrigidly securing said cushion therethrough, a rim mounted upon saidcushion,

a plurality of spokes radially extended from said rim and a fellymounted upon the outer ends 01": said spokes.

3. A wheel including a bushing, a sleeve carried by said bushing, acushion mounted 011 said sleeve, a bead formed on said sleeve forengagement in said cushion, cars carried by said sleeve for engagementwith said cushion, a rim supported upon the periphery of said cushion,spokes radially extended from said rim and a felly mounted upon theouter ends of said spokes.

4. A wheel including a bushing, a sleeve mounted on said bushing, saidbushing being flared at its opposite extremities to retain said sleevein position, a cushion mounted about said sleeve, ears carried by saidsleeve for engagement with said cushion, a rim secured to the peripheryof said cushion, ears carried by said rim and engaged with said cushion,a valve radially positioned through the outer portion of said cushion, aplurality of spokes carried by said rim and a felly mounted upon theouter ends of said spokes.

5. A wheel including a cushion, means for supporting said cushion, a rimsecured to the periphery of said cushion, spokes radially extended fromsaid rim, studs formed upon the inner ends of said spokes for engagementthrough said rim, blocks carried by said spokes, set screws positionedthrough said blocks for engagement within said rim and a felly locatedupon the outer extremities of said spokes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE E. WALKER. [1,. s1

W'itnesses:

WILLIAM G. SWAN, JOSEPHINE WALKER.

